Feeding mechanism for peach pitters



Nov. 17, 1942. R. H. SMILIE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PEACH PITTERS Filed June 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 2205:27- H- SMlL/E BY W 5 5 ATTORNEY \v MM Nov. 17, 1942.

R. H. SMILIE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PEACH-PITTERS Filed June 11, 1940 {5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT H- fM/L/E BY ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1942. R, Ml -E 2,301,919

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PEACH PITTERS Filed June 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR EOBEET H- SM/L IE ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1942 Filice and Perrelli Canning Company; Incorporated, Richmond, Califi, a corporation of California Application June 11, 1940, Serial No. 339,881

8 Claims. (01. 146-28) This invention relates to an improved feed mechanism for delivering 'drupaceous fruit to a peach splitter of the character described in the copending application of Joseph Perrelli and Robert H. Smilie Serial No. 278,194 filed June 9, 1939, for Peach splitter and pitter.

In the machine illustrated in the application above referred to, the feed mechanism is pivoted from thebase of the machine and peaches are impaled on it by a downward and inward movement of the operator after the operator has first elevated the peach to a position above the feed mechanism. These opposed movements of the operator limit the speed at which the machine can be effectively operated.

In general, the object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism for feeding peaches or other drupaceous fruit to a splitter, so designed that a peach may be impaled thereon by the mere upward movement of the operator in elevating the peach to the feed mechanism.

More specifically, the object of this invention is the provision in combination with a peach splitter of a feed mechanism suspended adjacent the splitter and comprising a pair of opposed peach retaining members capable of movement toward and away fromeach other in order to grasp and release a peach, and capable of movement toward and away from the splitting mechanism.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where those forms of the invention which have been selected for illustration in the drawings ace shown in combination with a peach splitter of the type illustrated in the copending Perrelli and Smilie application above referred to.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the feed mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modified form accomplishing the objects of my invention, showing the device in its retracted position.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional View of the device shown in Figure 5 in its forward position.

Figure 8 illustrates the peach engaging membersin their initial retracted position with a peach impaled on the rear member.

Figure 9 illustrates the position of the peach engaging members after the forward member has moved rearwardly into engagement with the peach and just as the two members and the peach are about to advance as a unit toward the splitting mechanism.

Figure 10 illustrates the relative positions of the two peach engaging members as the peach is being impaled On the splitting knives by the unitary forward movement of both members.

Figure 11 illustrates the relative positions of the peach engaging members at the end of their forward stroke.

Figure 12 illustrates the feed mechanism after it has returned to its initial position and with the peach held between the lower stationary splitting knife and the upper movable splitting knife just after the first downward movement of the upper knife.

Figure 13 is identical to Figure 12 with the exi ception that the upper splitting knife is shown at the end of its downward stroke.

As above indicated and as shown in Figure 1, the feed mechanism illustrated is particularly designed for use in conjunction with the combination splitter and pitter disclosed in the pending Perrelli and Smilie application and which comprises a suitable frame and easing l supporting a splitter generally designated by the reference numeral 2, a pitter (not shown), a transfer mechanism (also not shown) operating between the splitter and pitter, and a drive mechanism generally indicated by the reference numeral 3.

Suspended from brackets 4 and 5 extending upwardly and forwardly from the casing I are a pair of coplanar peach engaging members 6 and 1 arranged for reciprocatory movement in the plane of the splitter 2 so as to describe the sequence of operations shown in Figures 8 to 13 inclusive. As shown in these figures and in Figure 1, the members 6 and l are each in. the form of impaling blades respectively terminating in opposed teeth 8 and 9.

.The member 6 is bolted to an offset bracket ll of .one of the peach engaging members used in Whi h inturn is bolted to an arm l2 terminating at its upper end in a sleeve I3. Passing through the sleeve I3 and fixed thereto by a set screw I4 is a shaft I5, the outer ends of which are journaled in pillow blocks I6 and H bolted respec tively to the brackets 4 and 5.

Journaled on the shaft I are a pair of spaced sleeves I3 and I9 arranged to carry a depending offset arm 2I to the lower end of which is bolted the peach engaging member I.

The longitudinal position of the shaft I5 with respect to the pillow blocks It and I1 is determined by collars 22 and Z3 screwed to the shaft in engagement with the pillow blocks, Similarly, movement of the sleeves I8 and I9 toward the right is limited by a collar 2 secured to the shaft Keyed to the shaft I5 by a bayonet and slot connection for limited longitudinal movement therewith is a sleeve 25 terminating at its right hand end in a disc 25 faced with a disc 27 of brake lining material. Formed on the left hand end of the sleeve I8 is a complementary disc 28 similarly faced With a disc 29 of brake lining material. Surrounding the sleeve 25 is a compression spring 3|, the ends of which respectively engage the disc 2%, and a ring 32 in contact with the right hand end of the sleeve I3. This assembly therefore serves as a friction clutch :for causing the arms I2 and 2i to move in unison except when movement of the arm 2| is independently controlled against the action of the clutch by means (presently to be described) actuated by the drive mechanism 5.

The drive mechanism 3 is supported Within the casing I and comprises a gear box 5-] having sides formed with bearings for the reception of a main drive shaft 52 and a pair of driven shafts 53 and 54 (see Figure 2). The outer end of the shaft 52 is journaled on a pillow block (not shown) bolted to the frame or casing i, and has keyed to it a pulley wheel 56 arranged to be driven through a belt 5! by any suitable source of power such as an electric motor 51?. Carried on the inner end of the drive shaft 52 is a beveled gear 58 in mesh on one side with a complementary beveled gear as. The beveled gear 59 is secured to a shaft 5 2 provided with a worm 63 arranged to mesh with a worm gear 64. The worm gear 66 since the ratio between these two gears is 2 to 1, the roller 85 will contact the projection 84 upon every other revolution of the collar M. The roller 85 therefore serves upon every other revolution of the sleeve 68 to disengage the pin 15 from the recess 82, and consequently during every other complete revolution of the sleeve 68 there will be no rotation of the shaft 53. This assembly may therefore be considered as a shaft pick-up mechanism for intermittently rotating the shaft 53.

Although the drive mechanism 3 as above described and as described in the copending Perrelli and Smilie application serves to actuate the splitter, pitter, and transfer mechanism as well as the feed mechanism, it will be described herein only with reference to its use in connection with the feed mechanism embodying the objects of the present invention.

Keyed to the shaft 5 5 is a wheel SI provided on its periphery with a radially extending pin or lug 92. The luge 912 is arranged to rotate in the path of and contact the free end of a bell crank 93 pivoted to a bracket 94 carried by the casing I. Pivoted to the opposed end of the bell crank 93 is the lower end of a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod 95, the upper end of which is pivoted to the outwardlyextending arm of a bell crank 9t pivoted to a bracket 91 eX- tending upwardly from the casing I. Secured to the outwardly extending arm of the bell crank 95 is the upper end of a coil spring 93, the lower end of which is secured to the casing I. The spring 98 therefore serves to urge the connecting rod 95 downwardly and to urge the free end of the bell crank 83 in a clockwise direction against the head of a set screw 99 carried by a channel I81 forming part of the frame or casing I. Pivoted to the upwardly extending arm I62 of the bell crank 96 is a rod I03 having a free outer end. The free outer end of the rod E83 is slidably engaged fiin a sleeve I04 formed with a right angularly dispart of the depending arm iii.

is secured to or formed as part of a sleeve 68 journaled on the shaft 53 and which also carries a gear 69 in mesh with a gear II keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 5 1. The gears 69 and II have a gear ratio of 2 to 1 so that for every revolution of the gear H, the gear 69 will make is a pin 76, the lower end of which has sliding engagement with a circular opening 11, thereby permitting the collar I4 to move radially with respect to the sleeve 6'3 against the action of a spring I8 accommodated in recesses 79 and 8| formed respectively in the sleeve I58 and in the inner lower surface of the collar '54 (Figure 3). The shaft 53 is formed with a recess 82 in circumferential alignment with the pin 16 and is provided with an abrupt wall 83. [Formed as part of the collar M is a projection 94 in circumferential alignment with a roller 85 carried by a crank 86 keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 54.

Since the gear H is driven by the gear 69 and posed pin I journaled in a boss I55 formed as Secured to the rod I03 is a collar or stop is? for limiting relative movement between the rod Hi3 and the sleeve H14. Bolted to the upper part of the frame or casing I is an arm or bracket W8, to the free end of which is pivoted a rod I99 held in the vertical plane of the rod IE3 by a bifurcated guide Iii. The outer free end of the rod 69 carries a finger I I2 arranged normally to overlie a lug I 53 carried by the arm 25. Provided intermediate the ends of the rod we is a cam IM formed with an inclined cam surface I 55 and with a generally horizontal cam surface H6. Secured intermediate the ends of the rod I83 for longitudinal adjustment therewith is a cam follower Eli? arranged upon longitudinal movement of the rod IE3 to engage the cam surfaces H5 and Mt of the cam H4. Upon forward movement of the rod I03 the cam follower Ill causes the rod laid to move upwardly against the action of a coil spring H3 secured between the casing I and the rod ms. Forward movement of the rod H39 in response to outward movement of the cam follower H 1 causes the finger lI-Z to clear the lug M3, thereby permitting the depending arm 2| to move in unison with the depending arm L2 or in response to the forward movement of the stop I5? against the sleeve 1M. 7

Continuous rotation of the shaft 54 therefore causes continuous rctation of the wheel 9! in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. The rotation of the wheel 9i effects through the action ofthe lug 92 a periodic and momentary depression of the inner arm of the bell crank 33, which through the action of the connecting rod 95 and the bell crank 96 causes a corresponding periodic forward movement of the rod I33. This in turn through the action of the cam H4 and the cam follower II'I permits the finger II2 to clear the lug H3 and the stop IflI to engage the sleeve I04 and thereby instantaneously advance the arm 2I and the peach engaging member 21 which it carries.

Keyed to the shaft 53 is a crank I2I, to the outer end of which is pivoted the lower end of a connecting rod I22. The upper end of the connecting rod I22 is pivoted to the outwardly extending end of a bell crank I23 in turn pivoted to a bracket I23 carried by the casing I. Pivoted to the upwardly extending arm of the bell crank I23 is a connecting rod I24 formed intermediate its ends with a turnbuckle I25 for adjusting its length. The forward end of the connecting rod is pivoted to the depending arm I2. Rotary movement of the shaft 53 therefore causes the reciprocation of the depending arm I2 and its associated peach engaging member 6. It is to be noted, however, that due to the shaft pick-up mechanism disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 the shaft 53 makes one revolution during a half revolution of the shaft 54 and is then stationary during the remaining half revolution of the shaft 54. The shaft pick-up mechanism as disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 is so arranged that the shaft 53 is stationary at that point at which the depending arm I2 is in its outermost position so that the operator has a sufficient interval of time to impale a peach on the peach engaging member 6.

The complete cycle of operation of the mechanism above described is as follows:

When the arm I2 has reached its outermost position as shown in Figures 1 and 8, the shaft 53 as shownin Figure 12. The arm I2 is then at rest while the operator impales another peach on the peach engaging member 6, and during this interval of time the upper blade of the splitter cuts through the flesh of the peach so as to bring the pit to the position shown in Figure 12 and then completes its out through the pit as shown in Figure 13, all as more fully described in the copending Perrelli and Smilie application.

In Figures 5, 6, and 7, the depending arm I2 is provided with a modified form of peach engaging member comprising a pin I3I provided at its outer free end with a blade I32. Surrounding the pin I3I is a sleeve I33 formed at its outer end with a hollow frustro-conical member I34 about which the stem end depression of a peach can be centered as shown in Figures 5 and 'I.

' Operatively disposed between the lower end of ceases to rotate, thereby permitting the arm I2 to remain stationary while the operator impales a peach on the peach engaging member 6 as shown in Figure 8. The rotation of the shaft 54 then effects an instantaneous forward movement of the rod H13, thereby causing (through the action of the cam H4 and the cam follower III) the finger II2 to clear the lug H3 and the stop N31 to engage and instantaneously advance the sleeve I94 and with it the depending arm 2I and its associated peach engaging member I. As a result of this action the peach engaging member I is thrust into the peach as shown in Figure 9. This having been done, the shaft pick-up mechanism illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 causes the shaft 53 to rotate and this in turn as above described causes the arm I2 to advance toward the splitter 2. At this point and as shown in Figure 1, the depending arm 2I is free to move in unison with the arm I2 in response to the action of the clutch associated with the shaft I5 and illustrated in Figure 4. The two peach engaging members 6 and I with a peach impaled between them as shown in Figure 9 advance in unison toward the splitter 2 until further movement of the arm 2| is arrested by contact with the forward edge of the splitter as shown in Figure 10, whereupon the arm I2 continues its forward movement to impale the peach between the spaced blades of the splitter as shown in Figure 11. At this point the arm I2 starts on its return trip and upon engagement of the finger II2 with the lug 'II3- carries with it the the arm I2 and the sleeve I33 is a compression spring I35 for urging the sleeve I33 away from the arm I2. Fixed to the arm I2 is a finger I36, the outer free end of which is disposed in the path of the flange I3'I formed on the rear end of the sleeve I33. Secured to any fixed part of the frame or casing I is another finger I38, the free end of which is also disposed in the path of movement of the flange I3'I.

The operation of this modified device is as follows:

The operator places a peach with its stem end over the frustro-conical member I34 as shown in Figure 5. The peach engaging member I thereupon moves rearwardly and is thrust into the peach as shown in Figure 9. The entire feeder assembly thereupon moves forward until the peach is impaled between the upper and lower blades of the splitter, whereupon the pin I3I moves forward against the resistance of the spring I35 until the blade I32 engages the stem end of the pit. Further advance of the pit is thereafter effected by the blade I32 and since the stroke of the arm I2 is predetermined, the final lateral position of the pit is determined by the blade I32. Upon returning to its initial position the pin I3I is first retracted through the sleeve I33 due to the action of the spring i35 and until the flange I31 engages the finger I36. After this the assembly moves rearwardly as a unit until the rear face of the flange I3'I comes into engagement with the finger I38 as shown in Figure 5.

The splitter 2 comprises a pair of opposed normally spaced coplanar blades MI and I42 aligned arm 2I to the initial position of these members with the reciprocating peach engaging members 6 and I. The lower blade I42 is stationary and is formed with a thickened portion or anvil I43, all as illustrated and described in the copending Perrelli and Smilie application. The upper blade is arranged to reciprocate intermittently to and from the lower blade in synchronism with the operation of the feed mechanism and with the transfer mechanism (not shown) operating between the splitter and the pitter. After a peach is impaled on the blades I M and I42 as shown in Figure 11, the upper blade moves downwardly through the flesh of the peach and forces the peach downwardly until the lower edge of the pit engages the anvil I43. The peach is then grasped on either side by the fingers of the transfer mechanism (not shown), whereupon the upper blade completes its downward stroke to split the pit as shown in Figure 13, and then returns to its original position. In the meantime the feed mechanism has returned to its initial position as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

From the above description it will be noted'that in delivering a peach to my feed mechanism. the operator simply elevates a peach from the source of supply to the feed mechanism and lines the peach up with its stem end depression over the outer peach engaging member and with its suture directed upwardly in a vertical plane. In doing this no appreciable efiort is required and no lost motions are necessary. The device therefore enables an operator to deliver peaches to it at a considerably higher rate than has been possible in connection with other feed devices.

I claim:

1. A feed mechanism for delivering fruit from a first station to a second station, comprising: a pair of opposed fruit engaging members arranged for movement in the vertical plane of said stations; means for causing said members to reciprocate intermittently in unison between said stations; and means for causing said members to advance toward each other at each of said stations.

2. A feed mechanism for delivering fruit from a first station to a second station, comprising: a pair of arms arranged to swing on a common axis and each provided with coplanar fruit engaging members; means for causing said members to reciprocate intermittently in unison betweensaidstations in one plane in which said stations are disposed; and means for causing relative movement between said members toward each other at each of said stations.

3. A feed mechanism for delivering fruit from an outer station to an inner station, comprising: a pair of opposed outer and inner fruit engaging members arranged for linear movement in a plane wherein said stations are disposed; means for causing said members to reciprocate intermittently in unison between said stations; means for arresting the movement of the outer member at the outer station while the inner member advances toward the outer station; and means for arresting the movement of the inner member at the inner station while the outer member advances toward the inner station.

4. A feed mechanism for delivering fruit from an outer station to an inner station, comprising: a pair of outer and inner arms arranged to swing on a common axis; an outer fruit engaging member carried by said outer arm; an inner fruit engaging member carried by said inner arm, said fruit engaging members being opposed and arranged for movement in one common plane of said stations; means for causing said members to reciprocate intermittently in unison between said stations; means for arresting the movement of H between said outer and inner stations; a clutch mechanism associated with said members for urging said members to move in unison; means for causing said inner member to move toward said outer member while said outer member is at rest at the outer station; and means associated with said inner station for arresting the inward movement of said inner member while said outer member is completing its stroke toward said inner station.

6. A feed mechanism for delivering fruit from one fixed point to another fixed point, comprising: a pair of inner and outer fruit engaging members pivoted on a common axis and arranged for reciprocatory movement in one plane; means for causing the outer member to reciprocate intermittently in said plane over an arc of fixed amplitude; means for moving the inner member in said plane rearwardly toward said outer member while said outer member is at rest; and means for then causing said members to advance in unison in said plane.

'7. In combination with a peach splitter provided with a pair of opposed normally spaced relatively movable splitting blades, a feed mechanism comprising: a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted above said splitter; an outer arm fixed to said shaft; an outer peach engaging member carried by said arm and disposed in the plane of said splitting blades; an inner arm journaled on said shaft; an inner peach engaging member carried by said inner arm and also disposed in the plane of said splitting blades; a friction clutch operatively associated with said arms for urging said inner arm to move in response to any movement of said outer arm; means for causing said outer member to reciprocate intermittently between said splitter and a fixed point in front of said splitter; means for causing said inner member to move toward said outer member while said outer member is at rest adjacent said fixed point; and means associated with said splitter for arresting the inward movement of said inner member while said outer member is completing its stroke toward said splitter.

8. A feed machanism for delivering peaches from a feeding station to a splitting station, comprising: a pair of outer and inner arms arranged to swing on a common axis; a rearwardly directed blade carried by said inner arm in a plane determined by said feeding and splitting stations; a forwardly extending pin carried by said outer arm in the plane of said rearwardly directed blade and terminating in a cutting edge; a sleeve disposed over said pin having a tapered end arranged to have seated upon it the stem end of a peach; spring means for urging said sleeve forward on said pin; means for limiting the forward movement of said sleeve on said pin; means for limiting the movement of said sleeve away from said splitting station; means for causing said outer and inner members to reciprocate intermittently in unison between said stations; and means for causing relative motion between said members and toward each other at each of said stations.

ROBERT H. SMILIE. 

